WEDNESDAY, NOVElMR 26, 1947 PAGE FO~IM T HE MICHIGAN DAILY Fifty-Eighth Year WASHINGTON WIRE: No Answer Edited and managed by students of the Uni- versity of Michigan under the authority of the Board in Control of Student Publications. John Campbell ................... Managing Editor Nancy Helmick ...................General Manager Clyde Recht ..........................City Editor Jeanne Swendeman ........Advertising Manager (Stuart Vinlayson..............Editorial Director Edwin Schneider .................Finance Manager Lida Dailes .......................Associate Editor Eunice Mintz ....................Associate Editor Dick Kraus.......................Sports Editor Bob Lent ..................Associate Sports Editor Joyce Johnson ........... ...... Women's Editcr Betty Steward ..........Associate Women's Editor Joan de Carvajal ..................Library Director Melvin Tick ..................Circulation Manager Telephone 23-24-1 Member of The Associated Press Thne Associated Press is 'ekclusively entitled to the use for re-publication of all news dispatches credited to it or otherwise credited in this news- paper. All rights of re-publication of all other matters herein also reserved. Entered at the Post Office at Ann Arbor, Mich- Igan, as second class mail matter. Bubscrption during the regular school year by carrier, $5.00, by mail, $6.00. Member, Assoc. Collegiate Press, 1947-48 Editorials published in The Michigan Daily are written by members of The Daily staff and represent the views of the writers only. "' NIGHT EDITOR: FRED SCHOTT Internal Meddling HE FAILURE LAST WEEK of Leon Blum to gain support in his attempt to form a middle-of-the-road cabinet between the extremes of right and left running rampant in France today serves to point up with crystal clarity a situation which is becoming increasingly serious-the shift of political power toward the extreme right and left. Leon Blum is a Socialist, a compromiser, and lacks the decisiveness which a leader should have to cope with the present critical situation in France. But he is one of the few men who could possibly bring together the warring elements of the Com- munists and De Gaullists. In his rejection, we see the plight of all men in Europe today who hold a central po- litical philosophy and are trying to reconcile the right and left before civil war is the horrible result. They are rejected and hated equally by both sides. It is significant that in Italy, also, the Socialists are being placed in this unen- viable fence-sitting position, and that both Fascists and Communists are trying their best to overthrow the government of Pre- mier De Gaspari. Both sides want to take over the government;, yet for either one to do so wouldI mean a bloody civil war far more severe than the general strikes of today. In all of these countries, the significance for America is clear. We must either quit opposing these socialist governments on the grounds of their mildly collectivist pro- grams, or we will face one of two alterna- tives: (1) Communist dictatorships looking for leadership to Russia, or (2) Fascist dic- tatorships, looking to us for support, but at the same time carrying on repressive policies in their own nations which would be the very negation of the principles of individual freedom for which the United States traditionally stands. The plain truth of the matter is that the present socialist governments of West- ern Europe are, in practice, far more dem- ocratic in the American sense than col- lectivist in the Russian sense. As such, they stand as the strongest hope America has to bring the center of power back to the approximate political center, and rid Europe of the extremist violence of to- day. To accept these socialist governments as democracic partners does not mean that we should keep our hands completely off the internal affairs of France and Italy, for we should make sure that the money which we have appropriated for European relief is spent efficiently for just that, and not used to line the pockets of grafting politicos. It does mean, however, that we should not expect to use threats of withdrawing aid in order to dictate what form of govern- ment will hold power in these countries so long as the existing regimes: (1) Admin. ister American relief for the benefit of all their people, (2') Retain a cooperative at- titude toward this country, and t3) Refuse to follow the Russian line. For the United , States to attempt to dictate the strictly internal policies of these governments would serve to dis- credit them in the eyes of their own peo- nle and would be analogous to the des- By IRVING .IAFFEI WASHINGTON-"But what are we going to do today . . . today?" What alterna- tives to price controls and rationing do you propose to relieve housewives of the grow- ing burden of inflation? These questions were asked repeatedly by Stanley Ruttenberg, assistant research director of the CIO, during a Washington radio discussion of President Truman's program for economic controls. What was the answer from the other side of the NBC table, where Chamber of Commerce economist Emerson Schmidt sat? The answer of evasion, the answer of irrele- vance, the answer of a change of subject. The answer of no answer. Here, at its clearest, was the bank- ruptcy of ideas of big business, the un- willingness, on the one hand, to accept the necessity of price controls and ration- ing, and the inability, on the other hand, to put forth new suggestions. Mr. Schmidt opposed controls, but not one concrete substitute proposal came from him. He talked of high prices as only a "symptom" of inflation, but he could suggest no positive action to eliminate the "symp- tom" or the disease. He resorted to the well-worn and repeatedly discredited ar- gument of labor responsibility for high prices by pointing to the increase in aver- age factory wages to $50 a week. Mr. Rut- tenberg, the CIO representative, discredit- ed the argument once again by citing Labor Department figures which show that $50 today can buy only $29 worth of goods in 1939 money values. There were no real answers from Mr. Schmidt, but there was the usual bag of sly, deceptive tricks. There was the calcu- lated rhetorical question: "You would issue rationing coupons to the American house- wife again?" This apparently was an en- deavor to capitalize on unavoidable resent- ments provoked by imperfections in the has- tily set up OPA during the war. There was no attempt by Mr. Schmidt to back up that casually tossed query with an argument, or to show its relevance to the basic issues of controls and rationing. When a direct question on OPA made an evasive remark impossible, the Cham- ber of Commerce economist ventured to declare flatly that the price control agency had been a failure. Reminded by both the CIO official and by Russel Smith of the National Farmers' Union that OPA had held the line on prices, Mr. Schmidt emitted a broken "No-o-o-" which trailed Wasted Weapon? IN AN EDITORIAL which appeared in yes- terday's Daily it was pointed out why participation in campus elections is so important. It was shown how just a few votes can be a deciding factor and thus how a single vote in a student election carries so much more weight than a corresponding vote in a national, state, or local election. In addition to this, however, we ought to take notice of the fact that elections at the University are not as free and as spontaneous as we sometimes believe. Students do not always cast their ballots with their decision based solely on the candidates' respective qualifications. Rather there is definite proof that elec- tions are sometimes decided on the specific issue of whether or not a man belongs to a fraternity. It seems that there is still existent on campus a group which definitely feels that a fraternity pin is a better measure of a man's capacity for student office than a past record or a platform could possibly be. They are wont to perpetuate, the idea (to paraphrase James Madison) that those who are with and those who are without will ever form distinct groups. Whenever protests are raised on cam- pus against what are alleged to be "un- democratic" practices which exist with- in fraternities, there is always a loud reply that these are private organizations and the practices involved concern only the members of each organization. When, however, the Interfraternity Coun- cil, the co-ordinating group of the Greek network, assumes the role of a pressure group and directly involves itself in a strict- ly campus election, such as the one to be held today in the College of Engineering, we feel they have overstepped their justifi- able function. When, in a letter addressed to all fra- ternity house presidents, the Council pre- sents for "consideration" the names of all fraternity members who are candidates in the engineering college election, it seems to be "not cricket" to us. This is especially so because of what the Interfraternity Council gives as their reason for sending out the letter: "In line with keeping fraternity men in office on this campus it is suggested that you pick your candidates from the above slate." Fraternities are no longer only private organizations, providing for the social life of their members, but have become an active political force on campus. We feel such additional support given cer- tain candidates creates an unfair advantage. ever more weakly into the microphone until it disintegrated into complete silence. Not a word of argument to back up his remarkable monosyllabic answer. Here is the same violent negativeness, the same fury of denunciation of controls which is issuing forth from the Republican high command on Capitol Hill-the same No, no, no, not price controls, without a constructive substitute idea. It is the strategy of defeat, the technique of inaction, accompanied by the desperate hope that the accusing finger of the public, after an economic catastrophe, will not point at the GOP. Even the impartial moderator of the NBC radio debate, finding that time had run out, remarked that he had hoped to get an answer to Mr. Ruttenberg's ques- tion, but that it would probably take at least another hour and a half. The question is still awaiting an answer from Capitol Hill. The Congressmen have more than an hour and a half, but not so very much more. "What are we going to do today . . . today?" Campaign News WHEN A CANDIDATE for the presidency of the United States deliberately alien- ates a block of votes friendly towards him- that is news. Harold E. Stassen, electioneering dyna- mo from Minnesota, recently refused the offer of support by the George L. Sheldon faction of the Mississippi Republicans be- cause of their traditional "lily-white" rule. Because the Sheldon Republicans refused to admit Negro voters to their party ranks, Stassen virtually scuttled two major ob- jectives of his Mississippi campaign. He gave, no help to the faction's current fight to oust National Committeeman Perry Howard, which favors Senator Robert A. Taft; and he lost the support of the stop-Taft wing at the coming national convention in Phil- adelphia. Stassen, continuing on his deep south tour, left a liaison man to discuss the situation with the Sheldon faction with the hope of getting them to open their fold to Negro voters. The success of this move is not likely. Although Republicans in Mississippi are not great in number, Stassen's action de- prives him of very much needed support and may further the cause of the Taft-ites. This is not the way to get around-polit ically. Apparently, the long-term principle at stake is of more importance to Stassen than the short-term aid he stands to re- ceive by supporting the local fight against Taft. For an investment with a quick return, Stassen could have quietly sided with the Sheldon faction, fought Taft, received the group's support at the convention and said nothing about "lily-white" rules and Negro votes. But for long-term considerations: the new importance of peaceful racial heter- ogeneity, and the great strides of Negro development; Stassen has shown himself to be above what is referred to as the "pol- itician." Stassen's step toward a higher plane of campaigning serves as an admirable example for other presidential candidates to follow. The sooner all politicians join the fight against racial discrimination in thought or practice, the sooner racial freedom will become a reality. -Craig H. Wilson. It Seems to Mel By DON NEUCIHTERLEIN WHEN THE FIGHTING of World War II had ceased and the millions of GI's, sailors and marines returned from all parts of the globe, each carried an idea in his mind of what he would find when he "hit the States'; but many a vet was severely jolted during the first weeks at home because he had not realized how greatly things had changed dur- ing his many months overseas. This same feeling struck me when I reached New York in September, but what startled me most was not the prosperity of the country nor the money-mad attitude of so many people, but rather the war fever which had gripped the whole nation. From the time I reached home, the same question has been fired at me time after time. "When will the shooting start?" The question wasn't, "will we have war" or "how can we prevent war" but WHEN will it happen. In other words, our public opinion has been so poisoned in the past year that people no longer think that peace is possible. In fact, some of these so-called authorities are already advocating a war with Russia now "to get it over with before they are strong enough to lick us." It is hardly necessary to add that most of these individuals were never in the thick of battle during the war. I spent a year in Berlin with American Military Government and I don't know of another place where a person is so lase to the international situation. Here we were in constant con- tact with the four occupying powers of Germany and here we learned from first hand experi- ence how the Russians think and act and how they feel about the world situation. Since Ber- lin is actually an island com- pletely surrounded by the Sovi- et zone of occupation, we rea- lized also that in case of war we would be inside the enemy lines. But the point which which seeps significant to me is that nobody was particularly afraid of the Russians nor of an impending war. It is true chat the Soviets are extremely suspicious of the west- ern powers and that it is most difficult to cultivate their confi- dence in dealing with German problems, but if one remembers the many attempts made after 1917 by certain western powers to throw the communists out of Rus- sia it is small wonder that they tend to suspect us now. But de- spite the arguing of the conference room, good will always existed among the nationalities, espec- ially at a party. No matter how heated the discussions had been during the day, no trace of it re- mained when the champagne and vodka flowed at night. Argu- ments, yes; but war seemed very remote. What, then, is responsible for the situation existing in this country today? No one in his right mind wants war, but it is also true that the news in our papers, and magazines, and radio are slowly but surely con- ditioning our public to the in- evitability of war. It is true that the international situation does not offer much toward se- curity, but to label every disa- greement a war threat and build it into a direct challenge from the Soviet Union is a crime against the American people's sense of judgment. There may be several reasons for the wave of biased news which . is sweeping us today: perhaps in order to sell papers and magazines the publishers must resort to sen- sational stories; maybe the ;ov- ernment, in order to sell its for- eign aid program must awaken the American public by scaring us into agreement. But whatever the reasons, it seems to me that we are working ourselves into a state of tension from which only war can result, even if it is against the better interest of the country. I do not say that war is not possible, for in our time we must always consider the possibility of conflict. For this reason it is vit- ally necessary that we remain pre- pared for any eventuality and take the lead in bringing about sane and peaceful solutions to the problems which confront the world. Our policy of firmness with the Russians is a sound policy in view of previous dealings with them, but we must be very sure that the pendulum of public opin- ion does not rest in a position where we feel that we are always right and the Soviets are always wrong. Such a tendency exists today and it is time we put a stop to it before we find ourselves in- capable of sane evaluations df the world situation. MATTER OF FACT: Unholy Deadlock By JOSEPH ALSOP ERLIN-In London, where the Foreign Ministers are gather- ing, total deadlock has already been reached in the meetings of their deputies. The relentless pet- tifogging of the Soviet delegation has, however, served to confirm British and American suspicions on one major point. Both delega- tions now expect Molotov to make a grand theatrical gestui'e of sup- port for a strong, unified German Reich - possibly in the form of a proposal to end the occupation of Germany. In making his gesture, Molotov will know in advance that its re- jection is certain. He will also know that he is doing incalculable damage to the Communist party in such key neighboring countries as France and Czechoslovakia. Why then should Molotov embar- rass Comrades Thorez and Gott- wald for the sake'of display of empty histronics which will only impress the Germans? The reason is very simple. In the contest for Germany which the Soviet Union launched at the close of the war, the Krem- lin is forced to employ tactics of this sort. Conditions in the Soviet zone do not permit any other kind of appeal to the Ger- mans. There is proof enough of this assertion in one extraordin- ary fact. Marshal Sokolovsky, Soviet commander in Germany, has now set the Germans to watching the Russians. The order was issued some time ago by Soviet headquarters at Karlshorst to the high command of the Soviets political stooge par- ty, the Socialist Unity Party. The Socialist Unity Party was com- manded to instruct its lower eche- lons to report to Karlshorst all cases of inefficiency and corrup- tion among Soviet Military Gov- ernment officials and Russian fac- tory managers. Assurances were given that these reports would be held confidential. It was grimly added that if investigation prov- ed the accuracy of the charges, the offending Russians would be removed and appropriately disci- plined. This astonishing order is the final admission, in turn, of a strange condition. This condi- tion has for some time been dis- cerned by official American in- vestigators peering through the cracks in the iron curtain cut- ting off the Soviet zone. It has an odd historical parallel. The history minded may recall that after the defeat of Athens in the Pelopennesian wars, the heavy-handed Spartans for a time dominated the Aegean Sea. But the Spartan administrators and soldiers sent out to command the new territories and strong points won by Sparta suffered from a fatal weakness. The bleak, regi- mented life of Sparta,. with its endless round of military exercises, political indoctrination and sparse living, left the Spartans utterly unprotected against the tempta- tions of a richer environment. Part of the Soviet problem de- rives from the unappeasable hunger of the Soviet Union in particular, and the Soviet sphere in general, for manufactured goods of all kinds. This has caused eastern Germany to be classed with Czechoslovakia as a heavy contributor of industrial products to the general pool. Hence arises the constant pres- sure for more and more Ger- man goods for Russia. At the same time, eastern Germany is deficient in coal, and acutely deficient in iron and steel - the bases of any industrial econ- omy. In the Soviet zone, everything has been done to win the support of the people for the Soviets and their stooges. All that has been done has failed. The Germans as a whole, including the Soviet-zone Germans, still look to the West. Even Russians are not immune to the appeal. Attempts by Soviet officers and officials to desert to us are the common gossip of Berlin. One German who knows Karlshorst well remarked laugh- ingly to this correspondent that Marshal Sokolovsky would soon lack any staff, if the western pow- ers would only offer Russians in Berlin the equivalent of forty acres and a mule. This looking to the west is MVolotov's Achilles heel. This is why such drastic propa- ganda is resorted to. Unless the Anglo-Franco-Amer- ican effort in western Germany is paralyzed, hereafter, by" indecis- ion, weakness and stupidity, prop- aganda is not to be feared. The superior magnetism, which some do oddly concede to the. Soviets, is really ours. To exploit it, we need only do a decent job in Germany. EDITOR'S NOTE: Because The Daily prints every letter to the editor re- ceived (which is signed, 300 words or less in length, and in good taste) we remind our readers that the views expressed in letters are those of the writers only. Letters of more than 300 words are shortened, printed or omitted at the discretion of the edi- torial director. Veteran Spirit To the Editor: THIS IS FOOD for thought for the "matured" veteran, Harold T. Walsh. In the first place, Mr. Walsh, our predecessors who came to Michigan, even today, are the most ardent supporters of our team. Do you consider them childish and immature? Our distinguished graduates don't. Secondly, the veterans at Wis- consin and Illinois didn't seem to feel it immature to cheer for their respective teams. If you are a typical veteran, do you feel more mature than other veterans who go to the fore-to mentioned uni- versities? Are Michigan veterans so different from veterans of other schools? Frankly, I don't think so. I give them more credit.. Thirdly, do you think that show- ing a little loyalty to your team on Saturdays will hamper your preparation to assume the respon- sibilities of the business world? If so, it is a weak excuse. Fourthly, do you realize that almost our entire team consists of veterans? They don't feel it beneath their dignity to show a little school spirit. Last but not least, Mr. Walsh, do you know what made this country great? It was spirit. Ev- erything the American under- takes, whether it be athletics or business enterprises, he does with a spirit unrivaled by any other national group. When we loose this spirit, we will no longer be a great nation! -Brad Stone Pigskin Epic To the Editor: 1'WAs P.M.,Martinmass plus Seleven, With nimbi and mist and wind in Heaven. Letters to the Editor Eighty-seven thousand the num- ber was, Who braved the cold and darkness for their cause. Hoped the smaller group of ten thousand, Their visiting' warriors would transcend. While the remaining seventy- seven, Their hopes too were bright, un- like the heavens. The toss made, the Ohio captain won, His team kicked, our team received on the run. Two hours and a half the battle was fought, The struggle was intense, each team gave up naught. Wet was the field, sloppy and slippery, Wet were the fans from rain and much whiskey. But Chappuis, Yerges, and Elliott, Left the Bucks a twenty-one deficit, So out to the Rose Bowl will go our team, As Maize and Blue with a "We will win" gleam. And were I not a Bavius of sort, Would gladly agree on this report. -"Sum" Howard * * * Discrinmination To the Editor: FOLLOWING IS A COPY of the letter sent to the Ann Arbor Barbers Association: We, the members of the Inter- Racial Association, find that your policy' of discrimination against Negroes is not only undemocratic, but is a breach of statute of the State of Michigan; namely, the Diggs' Act. Furthermore, it is contrary to the policy of Presi- dent Truman's recently organized Civil Rights Committee. In view of this we are asking that you meet with members of our committee before December 1st in an effort to erradicate these discriminatory practices. If no favorable decision is reached by that time, we will have no other alternative 'but to take concerted action on this issue. -Executive Committee, Inter- Racial Association, Irwin Goff- man, Chairman, Testing Com- mittee. v I DAILY OFFICIAL BULLETIN Children's Pligt - SCHOOLING will end this winter for thou- sands of children and young people all over Europe who just do not have enough clothing and shoes to face the cold. Last year, when members of the Univer- sity Famine Committee's Clothing Drive committee told the student body about the plight of school children in Europe, they received an immediate and sympa- thetic response. The drive netted more than three tons of clothing and shoes. One year has brought no relief for the critical food, coal and clothing shortages in Europe. In Holland, even wooden shoes are being rationed, and in Finland, clothes are being made from paper and wood-fibre. This year, therefore, an even greater ef- fort must be made by the student body and townspeople in contributing to the drive. The instructions are simple: Clean, serviceable clothing and shoes are requested, although a reconditioning service for slightly damaged clothing is maintained by the Save the Children Fed- eration, which ships and distributes the material. Clothing will be collected from residence halls and church guilds, or may be left at Lane Hall. The children of Europe need anything you can spare, so look in your closets and give now. --Harriett Friedman. Publication in The Daily Official Bulletin is constructive notice to all members of the University. Notices for the Bulletin should be sent in typewritten form to the office of the Assistant to the President, Room 10211 Angell Hall, by 3:00 p.m. on the day preceding publication (11:00 a.m. Sat-1 urdays). WEDNESDAY, NOV. 26, 1947 VOL. LVIII, No. 56 Notices Regents' Meeting: 2 p.m., Dec. 19. Communications for considera- tion at this meeting must be in the President's hands not later than December 11. Herbert G. Watkins, Secretary Transfer Student Testing Pro- gram: Scores, together with man- uals of interpretation, are now available to those students who recently completed the Transfer Student Testing 'Program. Stu- dents with less than sixty hours of credit may obtain their test scores in the Academic Counselors Office, 108 Mason Hall. Upper- class students may get their test scores and manuals from the of- fice of their department of con- centration. Upper-class students who listed no concentration ad- viser should go to the Academic Counselor's Office. Faculty and Veteran Students: The final date for the approval of requisitions for the purchase of books, equipment and special sup- plies will be Wednesday, Jan. 7, 1948. Approved social events for the coming week-end: November 28 Congregational Disciples Guild November 29 Alpha Kappa Kappa Delta Tau Delta All Junior and Sophomore Men living in the Willow Run Dormi- tories may apply for Residence Halls accommodations for the Sec- ond Semester in Rm. 2, University Hall on November 24, 25, and 26. Application for Admission to the Graduate School for the Sec- ond Semester: Students in other schools and colleges who will graduate, and who may wish to enter the Graduate School the second semester, must submit their applications for admission by December 15 in order to be given consideration. The crowded condition in the Univresity has placed limitations upon the num- ber that may be admitted. Bowling: The bowling alleys at the Women's Athletic Building will close on Wed., Nov. 26, at 5:30 p.m. and will re-open on Fri., Nov. 28 at 7:30 p.m. Bureau of Appointments and Occupation Information, 201 Ma- son Hall February and June Graduates: The Naval Research Laboratories will have two rep- resentatives here on 'Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 1 and 2, to inter- view February and June gradu- ates for civilian scientific and technical jobs. The examination will be held in January, 1948, to establish eligible lists of chem- ists, physicists, mathematicians, metalluirgists, psychologists, and librarians. February Graduates: General Electric Company will have a rep- resentative here on Monday, Dec. 1, to interview February graduates for their Business Training Course. This Course is designed to train young men for future non- technical administration positions within the organization. A previ- ous background in accounting is not necessary since liberal arts men can obtain further education in accounting through their eve- ning classroom program. February Graduates: The Fed- eral Department Stores, Detroit, Michigan, will interview men and women for department store ex- ecutive training on Tuesday, Dec. 2. For complete information con- cerning all these companies, ap- plication blanks, and appoint ments, call at the Bureau of Ap- pointments, 201 Mason Hall, ex- tension 371. It is desired that ap- pointments be made this week. Academic Notices School of Business Administra- tion, Course 61-Money in Bank- ing: Mr. Brown's sections will not meet on Wed., Nov. 26. 4 " lA WUCLT A W1iWT